CINCINNATI (AP) -- None off the Cincinnati Reds could tell that there was anything wrong with Rick Helling's ankle.

Helling held the Reds to three hits in seven innings, showing no
lasting problems from a sprained ankle, and the Arizona
Diamondbacks pulled away to a 6-1 victory Tuesday despite losing
Luis Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, who holds the longest active playing streak in the
majors at 446 consecutive games, strained his ribcage and had to
leave in the third inning. He's likely to miss a few games.

"I'm not too concerned about the streak,'' said Gonzalez, who
leads the defending World Series champions in hits, homers and
RBI. "This team's in pennant contention and I don't want to
jeopardize anything for the long run. If I have to miss a game or
two, that's what I'll do.''

Steve Finley hit a two-run homer and Erubiel Durazo had a solo
shot as the NL West leaders won for the 17th time in 21 games. At
74-45, they're 29 games over .500 for the first time since the end
of their 100-win season in 1999.

The loss knocked the Reds back into third place in the NL
Central and extended their season-long struggle against good teams.
Cincinnati is 44-23 against teams with losing records, only 17-33
against the rest.

"We had our 'F' game going -- flat,'' manager Bob Boone said.

All the Reds managed off Helling (8-8) was Aaron Boone's solo
homer in the sixth, his fifth homer in the last four games. The
right-hander also gave up two singles, walked Ken Griffey Jr. three
times and struck out seven.

Boone was the only Reds player to reach second in the first
eight innings. He also doubled in the eighth off Mike Fetters, and
two more relievers finished off the six-hitter with the help of
some bad base running by the Reds in the ninth.

Adam Dunn led off with an infield single and was caught breaking
for second too soon.

With runners on second and third and one out, Barry Larkin hit a
comebacker and right-hander Mike Koplove threw to first for the
out. Austin Kearns initially started for home on the play, then
went back to third. Sean Casey broke from second and wound up at
third with Kearns, who then broke for home and was caught in a
rundown.

"We didn't play too well,'' Dunn said. "That was one of those
things where we came out flat.''

It was an encouraging performance by Helling, who hadn't won
since June 16. He sprained his right ankle in a collision at home
with the Dodgers' Brian Jordan on July 2, and the injury bothered
him in his next two starts, forcing him to the disabled list.

He returned last Wednesday and gave up one run and 10 hits in
seven innings in a no-decision against Atlanta. He was even better
against the Reds, who hit only two balls hard in his seven innings.

Even though the ankle is still a little sore, it doesn't affect
his pitching.

"Is it 100 percent? Probably not,'' Helling said. "But
obviously it's good enough. These two starts have given me hope.
The good thing is I've picked up where I left off, and I'm throwing
good again.''

Durazo hit a solo homer and Finley had a two-run shot off Jimmy
Haynes (12-8), who had given up only one homer in his other six
starts since the All-Star break. The right-hander gave up five runs
in six innings as he lost his second straight start.

Gonzalez hurt his ribcage on a swing Sunday. It tightened as he
ran out a groundout in the second inning, convincing him that he
couldn't play.

"When he hit the ball and tried to run to first, it took his
breath away a little bit,'' manager Bob Brenly said.

Durazo, who homered twice in a 2-1 victory over Florida on
Friday, hit his 14th homer in the second. Rod Barajas had a
two-out, two-run single in the fourth -- a huge mistake by Haynes
with Helling up next -- and Finley hit his 17th homer in the sixth
inning.

Boone's opposite-field homer in the sixth extended his power
surge -- nine of his last 15 hits have been homers. Bruce Chen
walked the bases loaded in the seventh, and David Dellucci hit a
sacrifice fly to deep center field for a 6-1 lead.

Game notes
Finley's homer was his 100th as a Diamondback. ...
Dellucci, who missed Sunday's game with a store lower back,
replaced Gonzalez in the third inning. He was 0-for-2 with a walk
and the sacrifice fly. ... Craig Counsell hasn't played in the last
four games because of a stiff neck. ... Although Reds RHP Elmer
Dessens is eligible to come off the DL on Aug. 17, manager Bob
Boone isn't planning on having him start until Aug. 22. He wants to
make sure that Dessens, the club's top starter, is fully recovered
from a strained groin. ... Boone announced after the game that RHP
Jose Rijo will start Saturday against Houston. He's been in the
bullpen since coming off the DL on July 13.